Automatic door opener



April 1953 D. E. DAVIS 2,634,124

AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER Filed April 28, 1948 2 swims-SHEET 1 "I! I v D. E. DAVIS AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER A ril 7, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 28, 1948 flarzi el E Dari .9

Hz i'orlzy Patented Apr. 7, 1953 AUTOMATIC DOOR OPEN ER Daniel E. Davis, Dallas, Tex, assignor of fiftyeight percent to Mary Davis Miller Application April 28, 1948, Serial No. 23 .760

This invention relates to a closure; apparatus it isprimarily an obiect oi the invention to provide. an apparatu ofthe kind inoludingfla closure member together with substantially auto matic means for controlling, thelopening and I closing movements of theclosure members. M It: is also. anobject of the invention. to provide an apparatus of. this-kind includingv a closure member and pneumatic. meansassociated. therewith for moving the closure member into open position. 7

Another object of. the invention is to. provide a; closure apparatus including, a closur member supported for movement, into open or: closed position together.v with: means. operable at points remote from the door closure and fore and; art thereof: for. effiecting openin movement of the door. -;A still further obiectof. the. invention. is; to

provida anvapparatusuoi. this kind including :a

shiftable closure. member together with pneumatic means. for'moving; the. closure member into open position saidmeans including; a valve mechanisin interposed in. a supplypline leading from 1 Claim. (01. 268-42) a Z ation from a. point in front of. the closure member; I

Figure 6 is a view similar to, Figure 5,, but showing the valve. mechanism in open. position;

Figure '2 is also a. view similar to Figure 5, v but showing the valve mechanism in exhaust adjustment; and l Figure 8 is a an enlarged detailsectional view taken. substantially on line 8-8 of Fi ure 3.

The, invention agillustratediii the accompanying, drawings of atype particularly designed for use in connection with. a garage although it is believed obvious that use oi the apparatus is not asource of air under pressure wherein operating a mean for the closure member forev and aft thereof for openingthe. flow of the air to'eliect opening" movement of the closure members The-"invention consists in the-details of construction. and in the combination of theseveral parts: of my improved door olosure apparatus ings, wherein:

Figure l is a View partly in section and partly inelevation illustrating a closure apparatus-constructed in accordance withan embodiment of the-invention; Figure 2 is afragmentary-sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

a 'Figure- 3" is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section andpartly inelevation ofjan upper iront' corner portionof the apparatus as herein embodied: a

Figure 4 is adiagrammatic view in perspective of" the pneumatic means; herein embodied for controllingthemovements of the closure member;

Figure 5 is a'diagrammatic View" partly in section andpartly in elevation, illustrating the valve mechanism, of thejdoor closure, and, in

1 closed adjustment and in adjustment "for operto. be. limited in this respect. .Asillustrated, at each side of the car entrance l, andto one side thereof the'floor. of the building provided with an, upwardly facing socket 2; to receive the lower end portion of an elongated post or standard 3, preferably pipe, or the like. The jsocket 2 isalso positioned. closely adjacent to the inner face. of the. walls of the structure provided with the entrance opening I.

The post or standard 3 "is of a. length to extend above the top of the entrance opening, l and when in position is substantially vertically defined. The post or standard 3 is held in. positi'on by the bolts 4 positioned as desired and herein. shown as disposedthrough the post 3 and the wall W. The bolts 4 are also directed through the back strip '5 to tightly and snugly holdjthe strip between the post '3 and the wall W as particularly illustrated in Figured. The strip 5' is of a length to extend along the post '3 from a point closely adjacent to the. floor line of the building structure to a point closely ad- J'acent to the top of the door opening I. g

The strip 5"is of a width to extend outward beyond the post 3 and said extending portion has extending'lengthwise thereof a track groove 5 for the purpose. to. be hereinafter referred, to. The top extremity of each of the posts or standards 3 has detachably secured thereto by the coupling'joint 1, an end portion of an elongated tubular member or pipe 8 of required dimensions. This pipe 8, when in working posisubstantially in. parallelism. The opposed faces.

or themembers or pipes 8 have welded or other- Wise. rigidly secured thereto. the anglemembers or irons 9 which extend from substantially one end of the members or pipes 8, to a desired distance beyond the opposite or free ends of the members or pipes 8. Each of the members or irons 9 at its end position remote from the port or standard 3 may be supported in any manner desired, it only being necessary that the member or iron 9 is properly held in desired position. The angle members or irons 9 are disposed forwardly and downwardly on a predetermined incline so that the closure member M may return by gravity from open position to closed position as will later be more particularly referred to.

The inner side of each of the posts or standards 3 have welded or otherwise rigidly held thereto an angle member or iron I which is disposed from the lower extremity of said post or standard 3, to a point spaced inwardly of the upper extremity thereof. The angle member or iron I 0 has a flange a extending outwardly from-the inner face of the post or standard 3,

v and spaced therefrom, said flange a being opposed to the groove 6 in the track strip 5.

The angle member or iron 9 has a bottom flange b which extends inwardly from the associated member or pipe 8 and the forward or front end of the flange b and the upper end of the flange a of the adjacent post or standard 3.1138 interposed therebetween an arcuate track member I I detachably held in place by the splice plate I2, held in position by the conventional bolts I3.

The track member II is on a radius and of a length determined by the distance between the opposed ends of the flanges a and b.

By having the track members II readily removable, the collapsing of the apparatus may be easily accomplished as the members or pipes 8 are also easily separated from the posts or standards 3.

The closure member M is of a width in excess of the Width of the entrance opening I in the wall W but of a width slightly less than the distance between the opposed flanges a when the apparatus is in assembled or working position. The closure member M comprises a plurality of flat panels I4 of desired dimensions and said I panels I4 are in duplicate. The longitudinal marginal edges of the panels are beveled, as at c, on an angle of When the member M is in its lowermost or closed position, the bevel edges c of adjacent panels I4 overlap and are in close contact. The longitudinal marginal portions of the panels I4 at the inner sides thereof, are hingedly connected, as at I5, so that the closure member constitutes an articulated unit that can readily move from a vertical position, as when closed, to a horizontal position, as when opened, and vice versa. 3

Each of the panels I4, is provided in its opposite end edges and closely adjacent to its lower longitudinal margin with sockets I6 in each of which is fitted an expansible bearing sleeve or thimble II.

Tightly engaging within the bearing sleeve or thimble I! is an end portion of a stub shaft l8 which is of a length to extend a distance outwardly from the adjacent end of the panel I4. Freely rotating on the extended portion of the shaft I8 is a wheel I9. This wheel is preferably of a diameter slightly less than the distance between a flange 8 and the bottom of the opposedgroove 6 in a track strip 6. The wheel I9 is held in position by the head cl on the outer end of the shaft from closed to open position, the wheel I9 of the panels I4 will ride over the track members II and the flanges b and vice versa. The incline of the flanges b will allow the closure member M to move by gravity from the open position to closed position. When the panels I4 are in vertical position, the wheels I9 will be closely accommodated between the flanges a and the bottoms of the grooves 6 to permit vertical movement of the closure member M with a minimum of frictional resistance and also holding against flexing the portions of the gate in vertical position.

Associated with the top panel are the wheels 20 positioned adjacent to the upper longitudinal margin of said top panel. Each of these wheels is operatively engaged with its panel in the same manner as each of the wheels I9 hereinbefore referred to and it is therefore not believed necessary that such mounting be described and illustrated in detail.

These wheels 20 are each of a diameter greater than a wheel I9. The wheels 20 are of substantially the same diameter as are also the wheels I9. The wheels 20 are also of a size to have close contact, when the member M is in fully closed position, with the bottom of the groove 5 and the lower portion of the adjacent track member II. This is of advantage due to the fact that when the member M is fully closed the wheels 20 of the top panel I4 are in position to immediately ride over the track members II upon initial opening movement of the member M. The rollers 20 also provide means to facilitate the maintaining of the closure member M in an effective closed position.

The opposed beveled edges 0 of adjacent panels I4 are provided therealong from end to end with the mortices 2I and grooves 22 which snugly interfit when the panels are in closed position, and thereby prevent the passage, between adjacent panels I4, when in closed adjustment. of the elements, dust, and the like. The mortices 2| are preferably on the upper longitudinal faces of the panels I4 and, of course, the grooves on the lower edges.

Anchored, as at 23, tothe wall W at the required distance above the entrance opening I, is the inner or base portion of an elongated cylinder 24 which extends substantially horizontal inwardly from the wall W. ,In communication with the inner or base portion of the cylinder 24, is a pipe line 25 through which air under pressure is delivered within the cylinder 24, to move or force outwardly the plunger--26 which has sliding movement through the outer head 21 of the cylinder 24. The extremity of the plunger 26 within the cylinder 24 carries a piston 26 of desired type against which presses, in a well known manner, the air under pressure delivered into the cylinder 24, through the line 25 to move outwardly the plunger 26 when it is desired to shift the closure member M to open position.

The cylinder 24 is above the members 8 and substantially midway therebetween and the outer end portion of the cylinder rests from above upon the saddle 29 carried by the central portion of a cross member 30 having at its ends the depending arm 3| welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the members and preferably to the outer sides therev and the exhaust port 48.

' reame s.

secured, as at 32;"t0" centrai portion of a crossVmember '33. 'i'plitiiiitl'fllfat "its end. portions with the depending arms 34. lowerr extremeities of thesearms tf l carny the ontboard rollers 35 which engage from above the flanges 11 and ride therealong upon end'wisemovement ofjthe rod? 25in either direction to provide at all times desired support for the outer portion of the rod 25 without? interfering with the desired movement thereof.

The central portion of the member 33 has operat'ively connected therewith, asat 36, afiexibl e member 37, such-as awirecabl'e' ofrequisiteg-auge. The? cableyfl extends from the member 36 to the'top panel of" theclosurea At'a pointcl'osely adjacent to the track section II, the cabl 31, when the closure member is fully closed, passes over and engages a guide and supporting pulley 38. This pulley 38 is freely and rotatably mounted upon a cross rod 39 interposed between and held by the arms 40, rigid with and depending from the members 8 outwardly of the track sections II. The arms 49 are of such length to place the roller 38 in a position below and substantially central of the track members although such position may be varied dependent upon the requirements of practice.

The roller 38 assures desired initial pull on the closure member M to shift the same into open position. When the initial lifting of the closure member M has raised the member M to bring the top panel |4 about central of the track members H, the cable 31 will be free of the roller 38 but the continued outward movement of the plunger 25 will assure the closure member to be drawn to the desired position on the flanges ,b.

The valve mechanism for controlling the flow of compressed air through the line 25 into the cylinder 24, as herein disclosed, comprises two valve casings 4| and 42. The casing 4| in its peripheral wall has a discharge port 43 from which leads the pipe line 25 and in ninety degrees (90) relation thereto is an inlet point 44 which is in communication through the line 45 with the outlet part 45 in the peripheral wall or the second valve casing 42. Quarter spaced at opposite sides of the port 46 are the inlet port 4'! and the opposed exhaust port 48. The port 41 has in communication therewith a pipe line 49 leading from a source of air under pressure and which source may be as preferred and positioned as desired.

Working in the valve casing 4| is a rotary valve member 56 having therethrough a port the ends of which being so spaced as to open the flow from the line 45 through the port 5|, and through the line 25.

Working in the valve casing 42 is a rotary valve member 52, having therethrough a port 53, the ends of which being also spaced ninety degrees (90) so that when the valve member 52 is in one position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the port 53 will open flow through the lines 45 and 49 and when in a second position, as shown in Figure 7, the port 52 will open flow through the linei4 The valve casings 4| and 42, in practice, are positioned at desired distance in advance of the entranceopening and disposed in the path of travel of a Vehicle is a laterally directed arm X, carried by an upwardly disposed rock arm 54 movable with the valve member 50. When the closure member M is in closed position, the'valve 6, members 5t and152 -are'in the positions showniri Fi'guret rid} at which time the arm: 54': is: on. an. upward incline in adi'rection; away from; the; en.--

trance opening I i As a vehicle: approaches: the; entrances opening =,a;-: part. of such vehicle; such}. as a: wheel; Will strike the arm 54 .and. throw the. same: over to the position: as shown in Figure: 6,. wit-h the resulting flow of air under pressure: from the source of. supply through. the valve members. and 5lliand through the line 2'5 into. the: cylinder 24.. This resultsinthe rod 25.: being: forced: outwardly'to puil the closure member" M. from its closed position; to an: open position upon; the flanges b. The pressure within the cylinder wi' maintain the-.closure member in; open position. until a. part of the vehicle. such: as: a wheel: strikes the. upwardly disposed rock army 55 inclined towardithe entrance opening t.-

This arm 55Ji'sa herein disclosed as carried by a suitably mounted stub shaft 56 which is also provided with a second rock arm 5! depending therefrom in a direction opposed to the arm 55. Operatively connected as at 58, with the rock arm 57, is an end portion of an elongated rod 59 of a required length to operatively connect as at 60, with downwardly and rearwardly inclined rock arm El, movable with the valve members 52.

As the car strikes the rock arm 55 as shown in Figure 5, the same will be thrown into the position shown in Figure 7, whereby the port 53 will register with the exhaust port 48 and the line allowing the desired release of air pressure in the cylinder 24 to permit the door closure to return by gravity to closed position.

When the vehicle is to pass out through the opening upon the initial travel of the vehicle, a part thereof will strike the lever 55 Or more particularly the laterally directed arm 6| thereof, to throw the valve member 52 in the adjustment shown in Figure 6, whereby air under pressure may again flow into the cylinder 24 to force the rod 26 outwardly to the left of the closure member M into open position and to maintain such open position until the vehicle passes out through the opening 3. After the vehicle has passed out through the opening I it again will strike the arm 54 and return the valve member to the position shown in Figure 5 when the" port 5| will exhaust port 62 of the casing 4|. This will release the pressure within the cylinder 24, and again allow the closure member M to return by gravity to closed position.

It is believed obvious that the rock arms 54 and 55 may be selectively operated manually to effect the desired opening of the closure member M.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a closure apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

An automatic door opener, including a vertically movable door formed of horizontally hinged sections, rollers mounted on the opposite ends of said sections, and spaced parallel inverted L-shaped trackways engaged by said rollers, the upper legs of said trackways sloping upwardly and rearwardly from the upper ends of the vertical legs thereof, said opener comprising a single acting fluid pressure cylinder-piston unit mounted above the inside of the door opening and centered between the upper sloping legs of said trackways, a piston rod extending rearwardly from said cylinder; an inverted U-shaped frame, rollers carried at the lower ends of the side portions of said frame and engaged in the said horizontal legs, means for securing the rearwardly directed end of said piston rod centrally of the horizontal portion of said frame, a cable, means depending centrally of the horizontal portion of said frame for the attachment of an end of said cable thereto, other means for the attachment of the opposite end of said cable to the center of the uppermost section of said door, and means for controlling the admittance of exhaust of the fluid pressure to and from the outer end of said cylinder, said door gravitating to closed position upon the exhaust of the fluid pressure from the cylinder.

DANIEL E. DAVIS.

8 REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,216,345 Mirau Feb. 20, 1917 1,476,510 Haskell Dec. 4, 1923 1,721,501 McKee July 23, 1929 1,848,311 Brower Mar. 8, 1932 2,227,115 Westover Dec. 31, 1940 2,260,080 Lane Oct. 21, 1941 2,344,276 Thompson Mar. 14, 1944 2,517,768 Coulson Aug. 8, 1950- 2,534,525 Molloy Dec. 19, 1950 

